Angola - Data.unhcr.org

INTER-AGENCY OPERATIONAL UPDATE – DRC SITUATION

Angola 17 April 2018 Elections in Lóvua settlement have been completed. Refugees voted for three representatives per village. Seventy-four per cent of eligible refugees voted of which 35 per cent were women.

A Joint Assessment Mission (JAM) will be held from 17 April to end-May. The findings will allow the re-design of partners’ emergency foodsecurity and nutritional response beyond July 2018.

KEY FIGURES

The borehole drilling has started in Lóvua settlement after a fourmonth delay by the contractor company; so far 84m of the 120m have been drilled.

USD 63,881,333

77% of Congolese refugees from Kasai in Angola are women

Funded 2%

and children

$M1.1

35,411 Biometrically registered Congolese refugees in Lunda Norte Province. Total of 23,982 refugees currently have active status to receive food assistance. Unfunded 98%

50,000

$M62.7

Inter-agency planning figure for Congolese refugees by the end of the year.

Number of refugees

POPULATION TRENDS

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

50,000 (projected)

70,000 60,000 50,000

35,411

40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 31-Dec-17

29-Feb-18

31-Dec-18

DRC Refugees in Lunda Norte

Gov & Social Cohesion 6% Operational Logistics support, 4% and Telecoms Protection 5% 13% Livelihoods 7% Food 23% WASH 12% Health and Shelter Nutrition and NFI 12% 8% Education 4%

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INTER-AGENCY OPERATIONAL UPDATE > Angola / 17 April 2018

Operational Context The outbreak of violence in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in March 2017 triggered the internal displacement of some 1.4 million persons and the flight of over 35,000 refugees into Lunda Norte Province, Angola. The Emergency Relief Coordinator declared an Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) System-Wide L3 Emergency Response for DRC focusing on the Kasai region, Tanganyika and South Kivu provinces on 20 October for a period of six months. The Government of Angola (GoA) has an open door policy to welcome Congolese nationals fleeing as a result of the conflict. However new arrivals have significantly decreased since July 2017. The operation continues to register additional arrivals under family reunification. As the situation remains volatile in the Kasai region with rising numbers of internally displaced people, humanitarian agencies in Angola maintain the 2017 response planning figure of 50,000 refugees until end of December 2018. UNHCR is not currently facilitating voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees from Lunda Norte Province to their country of origin. The interagency humanitarian response for the Congolese refugees covers the areas of protection, emergency shelter, livelihoods, food security and nutrition, non-food items, water, sanitation, hygiene, health including mental health, and education until the end of 2018. Refugees registered in Mussungue and Cacanda reception centres have been successfully relocated to the new settlement in Lóvua; the relocation of those living with host communities in Dundo is scheduled to start in May 2018. Currently, 13,475 Congolese refugees (3,359 families) are residing in Lóvua settlement.

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Achievements

PROTECTION

Achievements and Impact 

Registration: Out of the 35,411 individuals biometrically registered, 23,982 individuals (6,106 families) were present at the March food distribution.

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During the general food distribution for the urban population in Dundo, 497 persons (126 families) previously deactivated re-appeared but could not benefit from food assistance. They could not benefit from the food distribution because some families had one or more members voluntarily repatriated to the DRC resulting in the entire household deactivation after the migration authorities (SME) handed over the proof of registration. Partners are working closely with SME to resolve the issue. The refugees also said distance from distribution point and fear of being caught up in arbitrary arrests by authorities were the main reasons for the two-month no-show.

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Relocation: After two successful relocations from Mussungue and Cacanda reception centres, Lunda Norte’s Provincial Government has allocated a transit centre in Dundo town for the implementation of the third stage of the relocation exercise aiming at transferring refugees from the communities to Lóvua settlement. Partners are working together to prepare the remaining 13 villages in Lóvua and the transit centre to receive some 11,000 refugees from the communities.

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Elections: Elections in Lóvua settlement have been completed in all occupied villages. Refugees peacefully voted for three representatives per village. Seventy-four per cent of eligible refugees voted of which 35 per cent were women. The newly elected leaders will receive leadership training.

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Child Protection: Thirty-four child protection referrals were undertaken, namely one Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) case, four cases of abuse, one of negligence and the remaining cases in need of medical and psychological support.

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Inter-Agency protection partners implemented monthly monitoring of Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC). For children who face protection risks, integration issues in foster families or are in need of psychosocial support, partners will maintain a weekly case-by-case basis monitoring. In total, 44 UASCs are being monitored.

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Media: Partners strong engagement with the media continues with increased participation on radio panels and selected TV shows, improving public perception towards the refugee emergency in the country. Frequent media interaction has proved to be an efficient tool in enhancing protection of refugees. Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps

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Education: Currently, some 3,300 children and youth, from ages 6 to 21 are enrolled and attending class in Lóvua. The remaining 700 that are arrived later on and were not in the initial enrolment list are being processed by partners to start soon.

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Communicating with Communities (CwC): Partners have agreed to develop a community radio in Lóvua settlement to improve the information sharing. Partners have also agreed as to set up appropriate complaint mechanisms structures in the settlement.

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Refugee community celebrating a successful leadership election at Lóvua settlement in April. UNHCR/Omotola Akindipe.

FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION


Food security: A Joint Assessment Mission (JAM) between partners and the Government will be held from 17 April to end-May to enhance food security and ramp up monitoring and evaluation, screening, targeting and feeding the refugee population. The findings and recommendations will allow the re-design of partners’ emergency food-security and nutritional response beyond July

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2018. Nutrition: A total of 675 children (6 to 59 months) were screened for malnutrition in Lóvua, resulting in two cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 34 with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps

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General Food Distribution (GFD): An alternative distribution site in Dundo was identified by the Provincial Government and assessed by the UN to ensure all registered refugees are assisted. The logistics to adequately set-up the newly designated site took longer than planned and both March and April food entitlements were distributed at the same time.

HEALTH

Achievements and Impact

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Primary health care and medical consultations: In Lóvua, 872 consultations were provided. The main morbidity was linked to upper respiratory tract infections (27 per cent), musculoskeletal pain (19 per cent), followed by parasitic infection (13 per cent).

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Sexual & reproductive health (SRH): Antenatal (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) services continue. In Lóvua, 56 women received ANC consultations; 36 were screened for HIV/AIDS. Eleven women attended their first PNC consultation and received 360 dignity kits, and 25 mama kits.

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Psychosocial care: Health and protection inter-agency teams agreed on a new weekly psychosocial support programme with a complete 14-week plan. The new schedule was designed in synergy with other protection projects to enhance mental health awareness and activities. Group activities take place from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and afternoons are dedicated to individual psychological consultations and case management. During the reporting period, the joint protection / health team held awareness activities for parents primarily on corporal punishment, child development, positive discipline and development. In total, 100 refugees (57 men and 43 women) participated.

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Prevention: During the monthly General Food Distribution, more than 6,000 mosquito nets were provided to refugees in Lunda Norte.

Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps 

The distance between the field and the clinic makes it difficult for new mothers to reach it. Partners are considering the possibility to implement home care visits for the SRH nurse once a week.

WATER AND SANITATION


Water: Refugees access 14-16 litres per person per day in Lóvua settlement.

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The borehole drilling has started in Lóvua after a four-month delay by the contractor company; so far 84m of the 120m have been drilled.

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Sanitation: 71 household latrines were built by partners for refugees with specific needs.

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Partners are in the process of constructing 12 communal latrines and 12 shades in the new relocation transit centre. In addition, 5,000 litres water tank with four taps has been installed.

SHELTER & SITE PLANNING

Achievements and Impact  

Shelter: Two extra Women Friendly Space tents have been set up bringing the total number of Women Friendly Space tents to four. Cemetery: A new cemetery area for refugees has been allocated by Lóvua Municipality. The size of the area is 450m x 450m and is located opposite the Lóvua settlement.

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Working in partnership ■

Humanitarian and development partners, working in the country, are actively supporting the Government of Angola to ensure adequate and effective response to the needs of the Congolese refugees. A weekly inter-agency coordination meeting is held in Luanda. In Dundo, weekly interagency meetings ensure a comprehensive and integrated operational response to the refugee situation. Sectorial working group coordination meetings are also organised weekly in Dundo. Partners in the response: ■

Angolan Red Cross Society

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CARITAS

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CICAJ - Centro de Investigação Científica e Assessoria Jurídica

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FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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IOM - International Organization for Migration

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JRS - Jesuit Refugee Service

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LWF - Lutheran World Federation

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MAG - Mine Advisory Group

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MdM - Médicos del Mundo

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NCA - Norwegian Church Aid

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PIN - People in Need

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UNAIDS - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

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UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

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UNDSS - United Nations Department for Safety and Security

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UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund

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UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

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UNICEF - United Nations' Children’s Fund

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UNRCO - United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office

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WFP - World Food Programme

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WHO - World Health Organization

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WVI - World Vision International

The Angola Inter-Agency Refugee Appeal (January – December 2018) is available on the Angola Operational Data Portal. Agencies are very grateful for the financial support provided by donors, contributing to their activities with un-earmarked and earmarked funds, as well as for those who have contributed directly to the operations in Angola. Special thanks to China, Germany and Japan for their contributions to UNHCR’s operations in, Lunda Norte, Angola in 2018. Special thanks to Japan for their contribution to UNICEF’s operation in Lunda Norte, Angola in 2018. CONTACTS Margarida Loureiro, External Relations Officer [email protected], Tel: +224 945 416 383 Markku Aikomus, Senior Regional External Relations Officer [email protected], Tel: +27 81 797 7456 LINKS Angola Operational Data Portal

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